Ancient Coin Stories

Orchomenos is burned and its palace destroyed.

Priene founded by colonists from Thebes.

Approximate time when Askra in Boeotia is destroyed by Thespiai.

Orchomenos joins the Boeotian League, headed by Thebes.

Approximate time when Eutresis is settled by Thespiai.

Aegina and Thebes give “earth and water” to the Persians under Darius I.

The Battle of Thermopylae. Soldiers from Sparta, Mantinea, Tegea, Orchomenos (Arkadia), Corinth, Phlious, Thespiai, Phokis, Opuntian Lokris, and other cities are overrun by the Persians at a huge cost.

The Greek alliance, consisting of Aegina, Athens, Corinth, Megara, Thespiai, Orchomenos, Epidauros, Troizen, Halieis, Elis, Hermione, and Sparta defeate the Persians and Thebes at the Battle of Plataea.

Sparta defeats Athens in the Battle of Tanagra.

Thebes is reinstated by Sparta as the dominant power in Boeotia.

Athens destroys the walls of Tanagra.

Athens is defeated by Boeotia (led by Thebes) at the Battle of Koroneia.

Thebes attempts to reduce Plataea but are prevented by Athens.

Thebes destroys Plataea with the help of Sparta.

Athens defeats Thebes and Tanagra at the Second Battle of Tanagra.

Thebes and Thespiai defeat Athens at the Battle of Delium.

Argos organizes an alliance with Mantinea, Corinth, Elis, and Thebes against Athens and Sparta.

Thebes helps Thespiai suppress a democratic revolution.

A group of Thracians, whom Athens were sending home, landed at Mykalessos and slaughtered everyone, including women and children.

The Spartans under Agesilaos II attack and Persia. Artaxerxes II retaliates by bribing Corinth, Thebes, and Athens to make war on Sparta.

Thebes takes Herakleia Trachineia from Sparta and installs the Trachinians and Oetaians.

Sparta, Orchomenos, and Phokis defeat Argos, Athens, Lokris, Euboia, Corinth, the Ainianes, and Thebes at the Battle of Koroneia (the sequel).

Sparta and their allies, including Sikyon and Tegea, defeat Athens and their allies at the Battle of Nemea. On Athens side are Thebes, Lokris Opuntii, and Corinth. With Sparta are Halieis, Sikyon, Epidauros, Troizen, and Hermione. Phlious remains neutral. Pellene fights on the side of Sparta against Thespiai.

Spartans use treachery to take the citadel of Thebes.

Thebes expels the Spartan garrison at its citadel.

Agesilaos executes an expedition against Thebes, with support from Sikyon and Phlious.

Eresos, Byzantion, Chios,Mytilene, Methymna, Rhodes, Thebes, Korkyra, Eretria, Kios, Samos, Naxos, Andros, Myrina (Lembos), Hephaistia, Imbros, and Thasos join the Second Athenian League, reaffirming its alliance with Athens in response to the growing threat of Persian interference and internal Greek conflicts.

Thebes subdues Thespiai and forces its citizens to flee to Athens.

Thebes with Thespiai accomplishes a remarkable victory over Sparta at the Battle of Leuktra.

The Thebans under Epaminondas rebuild the city of Messene.

Thebes attacks Spartan territory in Prasiai. Sikyon rushes to help Sparta.

Thespiai is again razed by Thebes and its citizens expelled.

The Theban general Pelopidas intervenes in Macedonian affairs, leading an expedition to secure Alexander II‘s position. However, Alexander is forced to agree to a treaty that acknowledges Theban influence and sends his brother Philip II to Thebes as a hostage.

Persia under Artaxerxes II provides funds to Sparta to continue the Spartan-Theban war. They probably also provide funds to Athens.

Sparta, Athens, Pellene, and Sikyon attempt to stop Thebes under Epaminondas by guarding the fort of Oneion near Corinth. Epaminondas gets around them and attacks Sikyon, Pellene, Epidauros, and unsuccessfully attempts to take Corinth.

Soldiers from Syracuse support Sparta against Thebes, then invade and defeat Sikyon.

The Theban Pelopidas is sent to negotiate with Alexander of Pherai, who throws him in prison.

Artaxerxes II attempts to mediate between the Greek states. He proposes a settlement that highly favors Thebes and leaves Messene free. All states except for Thebes reject it.

Athens under the general Chares attempt to take Oropos, which had been taken by Sikyon with the support of Thebes, but the Athenians are forced to withdraw.

Euphron with the help of Athens recaptures Sikyon, except for the akropolis, which is guarded by a Theban garrison.

The Boeotian League, headed by Thebes, sacks Orchomenos.

Thebes defeats Alexander of Pherai at the Battle of Cynoscephalae, but their general Pelopidas is killed.

Philip II returns to Macedon from Thebes.

Euphron flees Sikyon to Thebes, where he is killed.

With Theban power down after the death of Epaminondas, Alexander of Pherai takes Tinos and sells the inhabitants as slaves, then besieges Peparethos. Athens defeats Alexander near Sounion and relieves Peparethos. Alexander then plunders Piraios.

Epaminondas and Boeotia defeat Sparta at the Battle of Mantinea. However, the death of Epaminondas would spell Thebes‘ downfall. On the side of Thebes were Tegea, Argos, Messene, Sikyon, and the Aenianians. On the side of Sparta were Heraia, Athens, Elis, and Mantinea.

Orchomenos is rebuilt with the help of Phokis.

Artabazos II enlists the help of Thebes, but he is defeated by forces under Artaxerxes III Okhos. Artabazos flees to the court of Philip II.

Philip II takes Pagasai at the request of the Thessalian League and Thebes.

Onomarchos of Phokis takes Koroneia.

Chares takes up service with the breakaway satrap Artabazos. Artaxerxes III Okhos pressures Athens, and Chares is forced to leave. Artabazos then hires Thebans.

Sparta attempts to destroy Megalopolis, but the city is rescued by Thebes.

Orchomenos is destroyed again by Thebes.

Phokis uses its three fortified cities of Orchomenos, Koroneia, and Koriai to fight against Thebes and the rest of Boeotia.

Philip II hands over Orchomenos and Koroneia to Thebes.

Artaxerxes III Okhos finally succeeds in re-conquering Egypt under Nektanebo II, with the help of mercenaries from Argos, Thebes, and Mentor of Rhodes.

Alexander III and Philip II defeat Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea. Argos and Stratos fight on the side of Philip, while Corinth, Megara, Epidauros, and Troizen participate with Thebes. Chares is one of the Athenian commanders, but escapes blame.

The Aetolian League, Athens, and Thebes revolt against Macedon after the death of Philip II.

Alexander the Great demolishes Thebes after a rebellion. Perdikkas is severely wounded in the battle. Orchomenos and Thespiai fight on the side of Alexander.

Orchomenos is rebuilt with the help of Alexander III.

Alexander III travels through Pelinna on his way to Thebes.

A food crisis erupts in the Greek world that was likely caused by Alexander the Great’s campaigns in the East, which disrupted traditional trade routes. Kyrene sends grain to many cities including Athens, Sparta, Rhodes, Thebes, Argos, and Atrax.

The Lamian War breaks out, pitting Athens, Thebes, Megara, Argos, and the Aetolian League against Antipater of Macedon.

Kassander founds Kassandreia from Potidaia and Mende, founds Thessalonika, and rebuilds Thebes.

The bones of Hector are moved from Ophryneion to Thebes to satisfy an oracle.

Demetrios Poliorketes takes Athens from Kassander and forces Demetrios of Phaleron to flee to Thebes.

Demetrios Poliorketes and Antigonos II take Thebes after a siege. Huge siege engines are used to break its walls.

Thebes allies itself with Lysimachos and the Aetolian League.

The Achaian League is defeated by Rome at the Battle of Skarpheia. Corinth is destroyed and Dyme, Patrai, Sikyon, Bura, Megalopolis, Thebes, Pellene, and Aegira come under the control of Rome.

Sulla destroys Larymna after a victory at Orchomenos.

Thebes is included in the new province of Achaia.

The Emperor Nero travels to Greece and visits Athens, Olympia, Delphi, Epidauros, and Thebes.